After six years under a tent, three in an airplane hangar,
and 13 at Tropicana Field, Florida's longest-running and most prosperous
one-night tasting will enjoy its second year at the Armed Forces History Museum Saturday, May
25. Walking away from Tropicana Field wasn't easy, but the shift in venue and
date change to Memorial Day weekend provides a great opportunity to accentuate
our fundraising mission to serve injured veterans.

The Museum offers a
centrally located 50,000 sq. ft. facility with a phenomenal look at our
military from WWI through today. Its fascinating re-creation of the defense of
our nation will astound you and underscore the importance of supporting the
ServiceSource Warrior Bridge Initiative and the veterans who sacrificed so much
to ensure our many freedoms.

Taste why this perennial powerhouse has garnered numerous
awards for 'Best Fundraiser for Charity' and 'Best Wine Event' from Creative
Loafing, Weekly Planet, and Tampa Bay Magazine, and was named a top-five
finalist for three consecutive years in the coveted WEDU Be More Awards 'Best
Event of the Year.'

NOTE: Each $50 admission includes a $2 processing fee for a total of $52.

PROMO CODE:If you have a promo code, please find and enter it on the Select PaymentMethod page when purchasingadmission.

REMEMBER to enjoy alcoholic beverages in MODERATION. We
strongly encourage the use of limos (Ambassador Limousine is our recommended
limo provider), metro cars, taxicabs, and designated drivers. If you have had
too much to drink and should not drive, please call a cab at our expense. DO
NOT DRIVE IMPAIRED. Each guest agrees that the purchase of a ticket or their
attendance at this event constitutes acknowledgment that the hosts shall not be
liable for any injuries or damages to any guest or the property of any guest
while attending or traveling to and from the event.

The Abilities Wine Tasting & Silent Auction has a quarter-century track record of which we are most proud. No charity has done more in the Tampa Bay area to partner with the wine and food industry to advance their respective missions. The event has netted $3.7 million in support of Floridians and veterans with disabilities and is Florida's longest-running and most prosperous three-hour tasting. Some of our most powerful testimonials come from unbiased media sources. Read what they write about Abilities' wine tastings, dinners, and galas, and then view the LONG list of wine and food events we have conducted:

"More than 700 patrons swept into the Armed Forces History Museum to eat, drink and raise money for wounded veterans as the Abilities Wine Tasting and silent auction celebrated its 25th anniversary during Memorial Day weekend. Frank De Lucia, the charity's president and chief executive officer, has attended every one of the events, from the first iteration, under a tent at the ICOT Center in Clearwater, to a hangar at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, to the museum in Largo, where it moved in 2012. Supporters could sample various vintages and mouth-watering morsels from some of the Tampa Bay area's top restaurants. As hundreds of people packed into exhibition spaces, they could not help but be moved by the reminders of military service throughout the ages." — Tampa Bay Times columnist Mary Jane Park

Tampa Bay Times Weekend Picks "It has been 25 years since the Abilities Foundation debuted its success gathering millions of dollars over the years for the charity and to help wounded or disabled veterans. The quarter-century anniversary on Saturday will once again have a tasting that features high-end and premium wines, food from local restaurants, and an auction. VIP reception starts at 6 p.m.; Grand Tasting begins at 7 p.m. Benefits veterans with disabilities. Armed Forces History Museum, Largo." — Columnist Mary Jane Park

"The Abilities Foundation seems to have found an ideal venue and timing for its annual wine-tasting fundraiser, held for the second year at the Armed Forces History Museum in Largo on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. It was the 24th iteration of the event, where food ranged from seared scallops (Parkshore Grill), pulled-pork sliders (Mr. Bill's) and shrimp and grits (Ricky P's) to flourless chocolate cake from Emmanuel Roux. Also greeting guests was Lee Neal of Pic Pac Liquors, the Foundation's longest-running retail supporter. About 900 patrons, including president and chief executive Frank De Lucia and board president Richard Winning, packed the house for tours, food and drink, raising nearly $85,000 for programs that help disabled military veterans and other residents find employment and affordable housing." — Tampa Bay Times columnist Mary Jane Park

“Like an adult playground for food and wine fanatics, this gig featured more than 300 wines from all over the world and 45 local, mostly independently owned restaurants to dive into. With charity in mind, the Abilities volunteer crew -- made up mostly of wine and restaurant professionals from around the Bay area -- also cajoled the likes of Salt Rock Grill, Armani’s, and Grand Finale to offer up appetizer-size delicacies to hungry and thirsty ticketholders. Great value too: $60 to gorge yourself for two and half hours. The Abilities Wine Tasting was truly a mouth-watering, sensory-overloading, heart-warming affair. All net proceeds -- all of them -- benefit the Abilities Foundation, which assists disabled individuals find work and learn skills. — Weekly Planet Best of the Bay comments by wine critic Taylor Eason

“Guests – the $250 per-ticket event was a sellout accommodating 260 – exhausted superlatives describing the event.” — St. Petersburg Times columnist Mary Jane Park
“The playing field was buried under plush carpeting, and the scoreboard came alive with scenes of thousands of people sampling the best food and wine Tampa Bay has to offer as Abilities rolled out the single most prestigious wine event in Pinellas County. Some of the area’s best restaurants, from Sutherland Café and O’Bistro to Grand Finale, Salt Rock Grill, Native Seafood and Julian’s at the Heritage pulled out all the stops, while wine shops like Pic Pac pulled out the corks to serve up a stellar selection of fine wine and fashionable food, all to serve the important cause of training disabled adults to return to full employment. Congratulations to Abilities for putting Pinellas County on the wine-tasting map, and congratulations to each of you who turned out to support it. It’s a fine example of our community coming together to make life in Tampa Bay a little better for us all.” — Weekly Planet

“The Abilities Wine Tasting has become the Tampa Bay area’s premier wine tasting event. Each year, more and more patrons savor the very finest California and international wines together with area’s top-rated restaurants and it is all to benefit the good work done by this organization.” — Tampa Bay Magazine

“Hundreds of wines, dozens of restaurants, thousands of fans. The largest wine tasting and auction in Pinellas.” — St. Petersburg Times wine critic Chris Sherman

“We’ve always known that the Abilities Foundation throws sensational parties. Every March their Festival at Tropicana Field draws thousands for a terrific evening of tastings and entertainment.” — Tampa Bay Illustrated editor Wendy Malloy

"Best Wine Tasting” — Tampa Bay Magazine

“The Abilities Foundation is the standard by which we judge charity partners across the nation.” — Napa Valley Vintners marketing director Jeff Adams

“Tropicana Field was once again the site for this incredible fundraiser. With food from 40 top-rated restaurants, 200 premium California and imported wines to sample and over 300 auction items, the Abilities Wine Tasting is consistently rated as one of the Tampa Bay area’s best fundraising events.” — Tampa Bay Magazine

“Nearly 2,000 people and 75 Napa wineries hooked up at Raymond James Stadium for the Napa Valley Vintners Wine Tasting & Auction benefiting the Abilities Foundation. As an added treat, a variety of top-notch restaurants provided food for the occasion, which served as a magnet for the Bay area’s best and brightest.” — Tampa Bay Illustrated

“This year’s ‘Best Wine Tasting’ is the Abilities Wine Tasting, which features the finest California and international wines together with great food from top Tampa Bay Restaurants. This annual benefit gets bigger every year.” — Tampa Bay Magazine

“They should have had a barker in front of the tent. The Abilities tasting drew more new acts than any three rings could hold — new brands, new grapes, and new blends from all over the world. This year’s tasting showcased energy and risk-taking and provided a chance to sample innovation by the caseload.” — St. Petersburg Times’ Chris Sherman

“Frank De Lucia may become the Louis Pasteur of fundraising if he continues to turn wine into charitable contributions.” — The Tampa Tribune

“Surly most of Pinellas County had come to taste the wines of Sonoma County, California. Who would have thought there were this many devoted wine lovers in the area?” — Pinellas County Review food critic Ruth Gray

“Bacchus spread his grape of good cheer, smiling generously upon the charitable efforts of Abilities at a successful wine tasting benefit.” — The Tampa Tribune columnist Amy Scherzer

‘BEST CULINARY FUNDRAISER FOR CHARITY AWARD’ “No doubt about it. The Abilities Wine Tasting has gotten to be the place to eat good, drink good, and do good. Over its 10-year history, this annual event has grown from a tiny tasting to an event so big it had to be held in the Tropicana dome. Frank De Lucia and the staff of Abilities, whose training assists disabled people returning to the workforce, turned the 1999 tasting into a gala celebration of fine food and wine that impressed even our jaded palate. Three cheers to the stellar restaurants and wine distributors who brought out their best to support this great event. You captured our hearts, as well as our taste buds!” — Weekly Planet

Wine, Food, and Spirits Events and Dinners Benefiting Abilities, Inc.

1990-2014—$3.7 Million Raised in Support of Floridians and Military Veterans with Disabilities!

NOTE: Please be certain to enjoy wines in moderation. We strongly encourage the use of designated drivers. If you have had too much to drink and should not drive, please call a taxicab or arrange to be driven home at our expense. DO NOT DRIVE IMPAIRED. Each guest agrees that the purchase of a reservation or their attendance at these events constitutes acknowledgement that the hosts shall not be liable for any injuries or damages to any guest or the property of any guest while attending or traveling to and from these events.

A copy of the official registration and financial information for the Abilities Foundation (SC-00117) may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352, within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. The Foundation does not use professional solicitors. 100% of each contribution is received by the Foundation. For federal income-tax purposes, that portion of your gift that exceeds the estimated fair market value of admission to events may be tax-deductible.